At 46, Alesha admits she misses the carefree days of the early 2000s, when going out to clubs meant escaping the pressures of social media
Alesha Dixon believes her former girl group, Mis-Teeq, is finally getting the recognition they deserve for their significant contributions to the UK garage scene. As a member of the group alongside Sabrina Washington and Su-Elise Nash, Alesha looks back at their rise to fame in the early 2000s, a time when UK garage music dominated the British charts.
In a recent interview with Women’s Health UK magazine, Alesha reflected on the lasting impact of Mis-Teeq’s music, especially hits like “Why?”, which captured a pivotal moment in British music history. “Some of my favourite times were when we were in and out of clubs and DJs were playing our records,” she recalled. “‘Why?’ was a massive club hit, and we’d be in the middle of the dance floor raving to our own song, and no one knew who we were.”
Looking back on their success, Alesha feels that, with time, the music scene has come to fully appreciate the group’s role in the UK garage movement. “I feel like, as time goes on, the more people respect what we’ve achieved because they realise it’s like lightning in a bottle,” Alesha explained. “We feel very lucky to have been part of something that the UK can say, ‘This is ours.’ The US was untouchable when it came to R’n’B, but the UK garage scene is British.”
At 46, Alesha admits she misses the carefree days of the early 2000s, when going out to clubs meant escaping the pressures of social media. “Sometimes I just want to go and rave like it’s 2000,” she mused. “I always say to my friends when I go out, if you can’t find me, go to the DJ booth. I’ll be right there. I’m like a magnet towards the microphone, and before I know it, I’m on the mic. And then you wake up the next day, and it’s all over Instagram, and you go, ‘Oh God.’ And it’s fine, but you just want to be in the moment—and then it’s on Instagram Stories.”
Despite the evolution of social media’s role in nightlife, Alesha remains connected to the music scene. Her recent return to the stage, during a Britain’s Got Talent performance, reignited her passion for live performance. “It was like my two worlds met, and I felt so alive,” she shared. “I felt at home, surrounded by everybody that I know and love. And then I got to perform, which is my first love, and it was just such a beautiful moment for me. I just thought, ‘Oh my God, I’ve missed performing so much.’ And I did say to myself after that performance, ‘Girl, you need to get back on stage more because that’s what makes you feel alive.’”
In addition to her musical comeback, Alesha has teamed up with Amazon for a high-energy performance, showcasing the company’s record-breaking delivery speeds. In a video posted on Instagram, she sported a double-denim look while displaying her MC-ing talents, quickly rattling off the UK’s fastest delivery cities and Amazon’s top-selling products for 2024. This partnership comes after Amazon’s announcement that 2024 marked the fastest delivery speeds for Prime members, with over one billion items arriving the same or next day for UK customers.
Alesha’s interview in Women’s Health UK explores her career, her reflections on the UK garage scene, and her plans for the future. The full interview is available in the March issue of the magazine or on the Women’s Health website now.
